2023 MLB Awards: Top 5 AL Rookie of the Year Award Candidates
With the 2023 Major League Baseball regular season in the rearview, voting has already taken place for MLB's most prestigious awards.
Award winners will be announced in November, after the World Series.
As part of our 2023 MLB award selections, here are our top five American League Rookie of the Year Award candidates:
5) JP France, RHP Houston Astros
24 G, 23 GS, 11-6, 3.83 ERA, 136.1 IP, 110 ERA+, 4.66 FIP, 1.357 WHIP, 6.7 SO9, 2.15 SO/W, 1.5 WAR
After toiling away in the minor leagues for five years, France made his Major League debut at the age of 28 in early May. He seized his opportunity, posting a 2.75 ERA over the first 17 starts of his career, one of the lowest ERA's in all of baseball during that time. With injuries to Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers Jr. and Jose Urquidy, France stepped into the Astros' rotation and played a critical role in Houston's return to the postseason, as they won their sixth division title in seven years.
4) Triston Casas, 1B Boston Red Sox
132 G, .263/.367/.856, 24 HR, 65 RBI, 0 SB, 129 OPS+, 2.2 WAR
Casas was one of two Boston Red Sox rookies that really shined in 2023. Masataka Yoshida excelled in his first season playing in the United States, but it was Casas that put forth the better season between the two of them, besting Yoshida in OBP, OPS, home runs and OPS+.
3) Yainer Diaz, C Houston Astros
104 G, .282/.308/.846, 23 HR, 60 RBI, 0 SB, 128 OPS+, 3.2 WAR
In only 104 games, Diaz slugged 23 home runs, compiled 60 RBI and batted .282... fantastic numbers for a catcher!
2) Gunnar Henderson, IF Baltimore Orioles
150 G, .255/.325/.814, 28 HR, 82 RBI, 10 SB, 125 OPS+, 6.3 WAR
The Baltimore Orioles won 101 games in 2023, posting their highest win total in a season since 1979, and Henderson was a huge reason why. In his first full season, he slashed an impressive .255/.325/.814, smashing 28 home runs and 82 RBI.
1) Tanner Bibee, RHP Cleveland Guardians
25 G, 25 GS, 10-4, 2.98 ERA, 142.0 IP, 140 ERA+, 3.52 FIP, 1.176 WHIP, 8.9 SO9, 3.13 SO/W, 3.6 WAR
Henderson will most likely win the award, but Bibee is our pick for the AL's top rookie. Like France, Bibee stepped into a pitching rotation riddled by injuries and delivered. He logged a 2.98 ERA, 10-4 record and 140 ERA+ across 142.0 IP. The Guardians continue to churn out promising young arms from their farm system, like a factory.
